Berlin: Tennis Great Boris Becker’s Rise And Fall Documented In Alex Gibney-Directed Series; Champ Says, “I’ve Paid A Heavy Price”
21.02.2023 - 19:17
/ deadline.com
When tennis champion Boris Becker entered the room for a press conference in Berlin before the world premiere of the documentary about his storied career and troubled personal life, camera shutters clicked furiously and flashes flashed. He is, after all, one of Germany’s most famous native sons and a widely loved sports legend, despite a conviction for a bankruptcy-related fraud that landed him behind bars in Britain for eight months.
“I’m 55 years old and I’m very proud of the things that I’ve done. But I’ve made mistakes,” Becker told the assembled media at the Berlin Film Festival on Sunday. “I’ve paid a heavy price for some of the things I did in my past. Today I’m a bit better for it. Hopefully a bit smarter. Maybe a bit more humble.”
The documentary series Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney, will debut on Apple TV+ later in the year. It follows Becker’s astonishing rise, when at 17 he became the youngest men’s singles champion in Wimbledon history in 1985. Despite his youth, even at that age Becker could bash serves that handcuffed his opponents, especially on the rapid surface of grass.
“He would dive, he would jump [for the ball]. I mean, he would lay it all out on the court,” Gibney, a major tennis fan, tells Deadline. “Big and explosive. He was impressive and he burst on the scene so young.”
As an unseeded player, he took down a heavily favored Kevin Curren in that ’85 Wimbledon final. Then, at 18, Becker defended his title, defeating the Terminator-like Ivan Lendl in straight sets. He arrived on the tennis scene with the charisma to match his power game. Says Gibney, “He’s a big, larger-than-life personality.”
At the beginning of his career, Becker was coached by the